Jennie Erven and SCHS cheerleaders get the crowd fired up during Friday’s basketball action against Colby.
32 Pages • Four Sections
Volume 21 • Number 24
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Published in Scott City, Ks.
$1 single copy
Death of 20-year-old is under KBI investigation
What next?
County wrestles with fate of former SCH, hear site proposals Instead of a drug and alcohol treatment facility, the former Scott County Hospital building may become the future site of a community wellness center. Scott County Commissioner Jerry Buxton, who is a member of a Community Wellness Committee that has been researching the project, announced on Tuesday that the site of the old hospital is their No. 1 choice for a center. That came just hours ahead of a public meeting regarding City on a Hill’s hopes of establishing an extended stay treatment center for women. Consensus of the commission is they would prefer having a wellness center at that location rather than the COAH facility. “All three of us (commissioners) like the wellness center proposal better than the City on a Hill proposal,” Commission Chairman Jim Minnix informed COAH Director Chris Lund near the conclusion of Tuesday’s meeting which was attended by nearly 20 people. In offering some details about the wellness center, Buxton said it was a proposal that representatives from the city, county and school district have been working on for about six months. The school district is looking at the prospect of moving more elementary classes into the administration building due to larger class sizes and lack of space at Scott City Elementary School. In order for that to happen, administrative staff would need to relocate and the former medical clinic is being considered as one possibility. At the same time, the former hospital would be demolished and in its place a
The first priority for the neighborhood should be to find a use for (the former hospital). I like the City on a Hill proposal. It sounds fine. Rex Grothusen wellness center would be erected that includes three practice gymnasiums and exercise areas. He said this location “makes the most sense.” “The community would have free access to the center throughout the day,” says Buxton. Estimated cost of the center is $2.5-$3 million which would be paid for by a onehalf percent increase in the city sales tax that would be put to voters in May. “If the sales tax doesn’t pass It’s something I then we won’t try have to considagain,” said Bux- er because it’s ton. “We will still 100 feet from have an empty my front door building.” Buxton said the . . . when I ask committee had (people) if they been trying to work would like it to out a solution in cobe 100 feet from operation with the school district, but their door their the costs were esca- enthusiasm belating beyond what gins to wane. they wanted to get Everett Green involved with. He said a joint facility that would include a new high school gym would cost in the $11 million range. Upon hearing of the wellness center proposal, Lund said he would go along with whatever the county decides. “Our goal is to do what’s in the best interest of Scott City,” Lund said. “If
people feel a wellness center at this location is best for the city then that’s what we want.” Even if the COAH facility doesn’t utilize the former hospital, Minnix said he remains a supporter of the proposal and would like to see it locate in Scott City.
State law enforcement officials are investigating the death of a 20-year-old Garden City woman, found dead in Scott City on Jan. 17. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation reports that Sherree Kaye Smith, 20, was observed unresponsive by a passing motorist outside Cowboy Cabins, located in the 500 block of East Fifth Street in Scott City. She was transported to the Scott County Hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The KBI and the Scott City Police Department are investigating the case. The cause of death is unknown pending results of an autopsy. Investigators are attempting to locate Smith’s vehicle which is described as a gold 1999 Ford Taurus with Kansas license plate 617 DOT. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Scott City Police Department at (620) 872-2133 or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 296-8200.
Swimming pool is no money-maker
Make Use of Hospital Regardless of what direction the county decides to go, Rex Grothusen said something needs to be done with the former hospital. “The first priority for the neighborhood should be to find a use for it,” said Grothusen. “I like the City on a Hill proposal. It sounds fine.” It was noted by another nearby resident that the loss of the Heartland Foods grocery store, along with the hospital and Dollar General moving from the north part of town to the south, is having an impact on the “desirability of the neighborhood” and that will affect property values. It was felt that making use of the former hospital would help those values to stabilize. On the other hand, Everett Green (211 College) expressed concerns about the safety of youngsters in the area and the impact a COAH facility will have on property values. “When I first heard of (the proposal) I had concerns and preconceived ideas,” Green said. “We have a three-year-old
Despite having the third largest attendance since records have been kept in 1996, the Scott City swimming pool experienced its second largest net loss. With overall expenses of $151,693 for 2013, the pool finished in the red by $129,061. That was exceeded only by the $131,113 net operating loss in 2011. It’s no coincidence that those are the two years in which the pool had its largest operating losses - easily exceeding 2012 when net losses were $91,040. In 2011 and 2013, the Scott City Council made major investments in improvements which accounted for the abnormal increase in expenses. Construction of the zero-entry addition and the addition of other pool features in the shallow end saw 2011 expenses skyrocket to $154,584 in 2011 - nearly double the previous year’s $82,801.
(See HOSPITAL on page eight)
(See POOL on page two)
City to make another pitch for walking trail grant
With one phase of a comWalking Trail Info Meeting munity walking trail complete, Mon., Jan. 27 • 5:00 p.m. the City of Scott City and Scott Bryan Conference Center Community Foundation are Scott City hoping to begin making prog- There will be time for questions ress on the 9th Street section of and comment from the public the project. The next, and largest, phase the south side of 9th Street from of the trail will include con- the football practice fields to struction of a sidewalk along Maddux Park. The proposal
406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com
Tootsie Roll sales give big boost to special ed services Page 9
also includes a 2,530 ft. hardsurface trail on the railroad right-of-way between 6th Street and Alice Avenue. Cost of the improvements are pegged at $400,000 to $500,000 with 80 percent funding from a Kansas Department of Transportation grant if approved. The city’s share of about $80,000
to $100,000 will be paid for through grants already approved, city sales tax grant (if approved) and private donations already received. “We already have some funding set aside,” says Scott Community Foundation Director Ryan Roberts. The proposal calls for con-
struction of a five-foot sidewalk along the south side of 9th Street. There are 6-1/2 blocks along 9th Street, from Madison Avenue to Maddux Park, where sidewalks do not currently exist. In those sections, property owners will be asked to give up
406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com Opinion • Pages 4-5 Calendar • Page 7 Opinion poll • Page 7 LEC report • Page 10 Health • Pages 12-13
Deaths • Page 15 Sports • Pages 17-24 Business section • Page 25 Farm section • Pages 26-27 Classified ads • Pages 29-31
Beavers claim 3 medals in home invitational Page 17
(See TRAIL on page two)